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History Check: Where Were You During The PlayStation Launches?

As the PlayStation 4 launch gets closer and closer, let's check our personal histories: Where were we at each of the last PlayStation console launches?

The years were 1995, 2000 and 2006 respectively. A whole lot has happened since then and the video game industry will never be the same again. You've probably grown quite a bit, too, and you'll never be the same again. So, look back and try not to get all choked up.

I'll go first.

I'll be honest: I wasn't on board with the original PlayStation when it first came out. I was still happy with my SNES and Genesis; I hadn't even tried the Sega Saturn or anything like that. But a friend of mine got the PlayStation when it first came out, and I realized that a new age was upon us. Not long after, I developed my hardcore dedication to RPGs and the PlayStation suddenly became my go-to option. It produced some of my most memorable years in gaming; around 30 RPGs still sit in my collection and I loved 'em all. I also enjoyed classics like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Alundra, Twisted Metal 2 and Medal of Honor.

Hence, I was all about the PS2. It also helped that I was working at Electronics Boutique at the time. I was there for launch day and what a freakin' zoo that was. The coolest part was that the night before, we all met in the store for a pre-launch meeting...but it was really just to wait until midnight, so we could all legally purchase our PS2s. ;) I did so at approximately 12:07 a.m. on October 26, 2000, which means I must've been one of the first people in the entire country to have it. I actually went home and put it under my bed, swearing I wouldn't touch it until the launch day insanity was over. I would be working all day and I wanted time to crack open that bad boy. Oh, and we were playing PS2 games in the back room for weeks before the launch. ;)

The PS3 came out right around the time I started here at PSXE, so it was basically essential from a work standpoint. I probably wouldn't have picked it up right out of the gate; the $600 price tag was absurd, I wasn't convinced that Blu-Ray would win the HD format war, and there really weren't any games I really cared about. But I got lucky; I pre-ordered early enough to nab mine on launch day, and I emerged plenty impressed with the likes of Resistance: Fall of Man and the blossoming PlayStation Network. I also liked that the original 60GB fatties were fully backwards compatible, so I could keep playing my PS2 and PS1 games. If I remember correctly, I played all of Final Fantasy XII on the PS3.

PS1: At home... Playing my Genesis and SNES.PS2: In line at Best Buy. Sold my ticket to purchase for $600 and bought one 1 month later.PS3: In line at Target. My family and I bought 2 60GB and 3 20GB. Sold all but one for twice the price. My good 'ol Phat 60-turned-320 is still going strong!PS4: ??? but I'll probably pre-order one. I don't think this one will be as wanted on the secondary market.

I was invested in the Saturn and was highly skeptical that Sony could enter the market and be competitive. I also got an N64. Saturn was great for arcade games, N64 became useless after Mario 64 and Zelda Ocarina. Final Fantasy and the JRPG genre brought be on board PS1 later on.

I didn't get PS2 right at launch but soon after because that was where Final Fantasy was goin.

PS3 was too expensive so I waited a year for the $100 price drop and got it because PS2 was so good to me with JRPGs and that was where Final Fantasy was headed.

Then Final Fantasy... died a slow and horrible death before my tired, old eyes. But PS3 learned me how to like games other than JRPGs so I will survive.

Now I don't really see any game I super duper need to get a launch day PS4 but Sony has been very good and pro-customer to me (The Beyond: Two Souls debacle notwithstanding) so I trust the games to come later and will buy one knowing there could be zero JRPGs this time.

I was way too young (5 years old) to be aware of the PS1 launch. I was however getting into gaming from playing at my Aunt and Uncle's place, where they had the Atari 2600 (Pacman), NES and SNES. I didn't get to first experience the PS1 until the after-school daycare I went to in second grade had nearly every game system (except Sega) to the current PS1. I got mine during Christmas in '98.. that amount of happiness I had from first unboxing it hasn't ever been replicated (at least not as extreme).

For the PS2 launch, I was still happy with the PS1 (FFIX and Chrono Cross came out around that time, you know). I mainly remember hearing rumors on the price and how much people were reselling it for up to $1000. One of my middle school friends had it though, and luckily since I was walking distance to his house would go there to play it. I later got the first slim PS2 for Christmas, and until I owned games, I basically borrowed whatever my friends had to get 'up-to-date'.. No seriously, they begged me to give up on the 'crappy PS1 graphics' lol.

Just about everyone I knew wanted either the PS3 or the Nintendo Wii. As more and more information came out, yeah, it was difficult seeing the hype for the PS3 go a complete 180 over the price. I didn't care though, because of how awesome upcoming games looked, especially Assassin's Creed. Couple that with it including a Blu-Ray player and wanting to replay my PS2 online games on there already sealed my want. It was too expensive though, since I was a Junior at the time and had to already save up for a car, Senior year expensives and of course College. I finally bought the slim model in 2009.

I'm not as hyped with the PS4 as I was for the PS3. I'm relaxed mainly, since right now everything's going smoothly since it's pre-ordered now and I've already accepted the worst (no disc-based backwards compatibility). Right now all there is to do is just wait and keep getting the most out of my PS3 before then.

I opted for the Saturn. My brother opted for the PSX. He got his day 1 while I worked a grueling day long shift at Burger King. Right after work I went over to my brother's place and played Toshinden and was blown freaking away. The graphics were so much better than Virtua Fighter. The next day I scrounged together my Saturn and returned it to Toys R Us and miraculously got store credit to get a shiny new PSX with Ridge Racer and a memory card. I waited in line 4 hours for PS2. That was a long time in line back then ;)I can't remember what I was doing on PS3 launch day. I knew I couldn't get one. I did end up getting a second job, a part time one, to earn extra cash to get one. I got the PS3 plus Virtua Fighter 5 and Motorstorm. It was around March or so in 2007. That PS3 died 2 and a half years later.

here's a fun fact. So Toshinden had that cool level where it had a tv screen in the background mirroring what you were doing in the fight. Impressive, right?

Fast forward over a decade later. There was a Gamespot video live previewing Virtua Fighter 5 for PS3. There was an official SEGA rep there with the two gamespot guys demoing the game. The VF5 stage happened to also have a tv mirroring the battle back stage, just as we saw from the PSX launch title. THe SEGA rep pointed out that this cool effect was due to the power of the PS3. True story. =p

I was young when PS came out. I didnt even know playstation existed until i met my friend Tom in like 6th grade.Was probably playing N64 when PS2 releasedPS3: at home dreaming of it playing PS2AND for PS4, I will be in line for it at midnight

PSX - Deep into my Sega games. Didn't even know about it until a friend brought his over and had Tekken 2 and Die Hard Arcade.Wasn't long after.

PS2 - Anxiously sitting in class at high school (freshman year)while my Pops picked up my fully paid Pre-order. He first lied and said they were sold out, but about 30 minutes later he handed me that beautiful blue box.

PS3 - Unfortunately broke. Got a Wii first (Dont judge me, it was $50) Then I ended up getting an Xbox next since I got it about $200 cheaper than I could a PS3 (co-worker selling it). I actually got my PS3 as the Limited Edition Metal Gear Solid 4 edition as a wedding present. (Great parents in law)

I bought a Playstation in 1996. I had a hard time deciding between the Playstation and Sega Saturn. I finally made up my mind and chose Sony based on brand name alone, even though they were new to the industry and despite the fact that Sega had more experience in gaming. I was happy with my choice and never thought about what I might be missing on the other consoles.

I got my PS2 through a friend of mine who had access to an Air Force base commissary. You couldn't find a PS2 anywhere around town for 3 or 4 months because they were sold as soon as they came off the truck. It's nice having friends that are willing to go out of their way to do you a favor.

I bought a PS3 in 2007. I made up my mind to wait for the first price cut before buying it. It was a frustrating wait too. It seemed like every place I went there would be a PS3 there to tempt me to skip the wait.

PS1: I bought a PS1 the second day it was released, kept it for three days, then took it back to EB (back when you could return new games there) and got a Sega Saturn. Stuck with my Sega Saturn until the fall of '97, when I got a bonus at Best Buy for an excellent inventory and I used that to buy a PS1 Tekken 2, Air(Ace) Combat, and Loaded. Ater that, I pretty much used my Saturn for those arcade perfect import Capcom fighters that came with the ram cartridge (Xmen vs SF, Marvel vs SF, Vampire Savior) and a few of the later games like Burning Rangers.

PS2: I was heavily invested in the Dreamcast,so I decided pretty much two months before the PS2 came out to preorder it, but I was at the bottom of the list at EB. Then word came in that Sony was slashing the launch units to 250,000 and then EB changed it to the first 50 who paid off the preorder in full would get a launch unit. So within 15 minutes of the manager calling me, I was there paying off my system and moving to the front of the list. PS2 was probably the most surreal launch I have ever experienced. I remember staying up on the IGN forums all night, unable to sleep, with abunch of other people talking about how excited we were. The mall EB didn't open up until 7 and I got there a little late. The line was already out of the store.

PS3: Wasn't really interested in the PS3 when all that stuff came out about the CGI from E3 05. I felt letdown by Sony. And I was already happy with my 360. So I skipped that launch. It was the combo of Folklore, Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction, and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and the impending release of MGS4, a year later that made me decide to get it.

PS4: The day inFamous: Second Son releases.Last edited by n/a on 7/24/2013 12:31:02 AM

PS1:My brother got it in 1998, it was released in 1996 here in Norway.For me it was basically hello Vandal Hearts, Wild Arms, Final Fantasy Tactics, Breath of Fire 3 and Xenogears. 1998 is probably one of the best years for PS1.

FFVII was already in platinum case when i got it.We imported games back then too, since games like FFT, Xenogears and Chrono Cross did not officially release here.What if I had missed out on those games!?

PS2:This i got with my own money, had to wait for months after release since it was very few system for launch, finally got it with Gran Turismo 3:A-spec.

It was games like Dark Cloud and Final Fantasy X that really sparked it for me, and i didn't really follow game new online so much so i just saw it in the store and X-2 was a shock a little later. Not shocked because i didn't like it. I didn't mind the dress spheres since it reminded me of the FFT job system which is like my fav game overall.

Ended PS2 era with Dragon Quest 8, Level 5 master peice.

PS3: Pre ordered, was close to $800-900 over here. It started out ok, got Uncharted and got it to more action driven storytelling. While looking for JRPGs, the few that came. Valkyrie Chronicles was a fresh experience for the sub sub Strategi JRPG genre.

I wasn't at any Playstation launches, got the PS1 in 1997 when I was a member at the boys and girls club.

I did stand in line, months after PS2 released, that thing sold like hot cakes, I remember I was the last boy in line with my parents to buy the last PS2 that was on the rack.

PS3, didn't buy one at launch, was concerned about the format war and price. If Sony lost with Blu-ray, they could've lost a whole lot. I waited 3 years until I made up my mind to buy a PS3, can't blame me PS2's generation had a heck of a run.

PSone: My first hands on experience was some time after it launched at my aunt's house (my cousin bought one). He only had a demo disc for it that had demos of Ultimate MK3, Loaded, and a couple others. I was enchanted; particularly by Loaded. I didn't actually own my first PSone until just before the PS2 launched.

PS2: I discovered its existence through a friend, whose dad had bought him one. The first game I played on it was Tekken Tag Tournament, followed by Summoner - which sold me on the platform. I owned my first PS2 in 2003, when I saved a couple checks from my student pay at Job Corps to buy one from Pawn 1.

PS3: As usual, I was behind the times on this one. My good friend Christian was the first of my friends to purchase one, though he largely ignored it for the first year he had it, instead sticking to his PSP and PS2. First game I got to play on the PS3 was a very brief stint on MGS4 - which rocked my world. I bought my first PS3 just two years ago - and only a couple months before the release of Skyrim.

I am hoping - HOPING - that I will be a little more on time with the next generation.

Compared to many here, I am a youngun'. When PS1 released, I was still in my pre-teens I think. I wasn't old enough to have a job, so I had no money. I didn't get a PS1 until I got one for Christmas of 1998. So I was a little late to the show.

To be honest, I wasn't too interested at first. I was happy with my SNES, and I was originally hoping to get an N64. But when my cousin visited, he brought his PS1 with him... and guess which game was my first PS1 experience.... Yup.... Final Fantasy VII. Obviously.... I was hooked, and my desire for a N64 changed to the PS1 specifically for FFVII. I'd played the FF's on SNES and even one on NES. I always liked it, but this was before many people had internet, and dial up was an absolute CHORE. So, I had no IGN or whatever to learn about the new FF. Soon after, I got FF8, Chocobo Racing, some Crash games, Tales of games, Chrono Cross (had to because i loved Chrono Trigger), etc. etc.

PS2 came out and I needed it... but I still didn't have a real job (I made some money as a soccer referee) but I was in high school and was more involved in various extra-curricular activities. I didn't get the PS2 for a couple years. First games I owned? FFX and FFX-2. lol (See the trend on a certain franchise? Told ya they used to be system sellers)

PS3 released while I was in university. I had been working the summer before as a waiter and bartender. I tucked away tip money in small portions until I had enough. Of course, I made it all back in selling a 2nd pre-order! mwahaha! But I had the PS3 on day one. And to psych myself up, I used to watch the FFXIII trailer every day thinking it would release shortly after the PS3.................... yyeeeaaaahhhhh.......

But although I originally became a Sony fan because of the FF franchise, there's been enough diversity and awesomeness from all angles that I'm a lifer now.

I don't really know what I was doing when the PSX came out. I was too young to make my own money and my parents could only get the Saturn. After I saw how cool the PSX was I got one for Christmas a year or two later.

I got the PS2 not to long after launch for Christmas.

After that I got the PSP on launch day.

When the PS3 launched I had been camping outside of the local Best Buy for two very cold November nights, at least for Midland Texas. My 60/500gig fatty runs like a beauty to this day.

I also nabbed a Vita on launch day, and I hope to do the same with a PS4.

I've had all of the Sony consoles but this will be the first one that I'll have at launch. I bought my PS1 in '99, my PS2 in '03 and my PS3 last Black Friday, although since then I've gone weeks without turning on my 360!

i did even know the ps1 exsited for awhile in 95 i was 3 yrs old i got my 1st taste at my friends house over a weekend for asleep over begged my parents sort of for awhile then i gave up and the ps2 came around shortly after that i say my first ps2 game play at a family friends house. and i think i must have gotten it in '01 or'02 cos we've ps2 close to as long as my littlest bro has been around which is 12 comin up 13 yrs, so i haven't been to any of the console launch's too date but i hope i can make the ps4 launch as i actually have the cash this time as my parents like never bought us that kind of thing only for my 15th did i get a psp which still runs like a dream to this day(i take gud care of it despite a lil bit of plastic scratches)as for the ps3 lauch anly the richest guys in class got one which was like i think like 2, i was pritty broke at that point in time and could only wish about ps3 it was $1200 in new zealand which was like heaps but i got my 1st tsate of that when my good friend next door got one with KZ3 after a fault 360 and a gone Wii and it was pritty epic got my ps3 about 2 yrs ago and already have about 30+ games for it had alot of catching up to when i got it so this will probs be the 1st launch to attend but first i have to get through another semester or engineering school and a final year project

so yeah my history is there but not launch by any means and i bought the ps2 myself which was hugeand we play the crap outta that thing took about 8 or 9 yrs to kill it(hardware stopped working)

just if you were wandering ps1 i was 3yrs old ps2 i was prmary school about 8 or 9 yrs old and ps3 i was jr high 13 or 14 yrs old i think and i will be 21 for the ps4 launch and i wud like to be there if i can but i dont know if it will be a midnight thing though

just if you were wandering ps1 i was 3yrs old ps2 i was prmary school about 8 or 9 yrs old and ps3 i was jr high 13 or 14 yrs old i think and i will be 21 for the ps4 launch and i wud like to be there if i can but i dont know if it will be a midnight thing though

I didn't know about the ps1 until my Mom accidentally bought it for me instead of the sega saturn. Best clueless parent mistake ever. Never looked back after playing decent as my only game for an entire year. (the demo disc got a lot of play too). I was in highschool when the ps2 came out. Eventually got one. I was in my third year of college (4th?) when the ps3 came out. Not the wisest purchase ever considering the price...and the tv I got soon after... credit cards are bad mmmk? they're paid for now though.

Playstation 2: Got a XBOX before i ever got the Ps2 i finally picked up a Ps2 like around christmas mid generation.

Playstation 3: Want with the 360 at first this console generation back in 06 because of it beginning cheeper but during spring/summer of 06 i lost my first system to RRoD. Got another 360 a week later lasted till summer of 07 when i got another RRoD. After tht i decided to get a Ps3. This generation i've been though 4 systems 3 Xbox 360's a Ps3.

Playstation 4: I dont know if im gonna get 1 launch day or not. after being burt by microsoft this generation im not really sure i'll buy on launch day. fool me once shame on me fool me twice shame on u. I might wait a good 6 months or so before i even think about it

PS1: I don't think I was born yet... but we got one ~2000 and we played SNES mostly b4. Both were played until PS2 days. We got it when our dad randomly brought it home. Don't really remember it much because at the time I didn't know what it was and I didn't care.

PS2: Playing SNES & PS1. Found out about it thru commercials. Finally got one at the end of 2002 for xmas.

PS3: Watched a bit of E3, found about it that way. Played PS2. Got it end of 2007 for xmas.

PS4: I don't know if we'll be able to preorder it (me & sibs) but we should be buying it near release.

i got my ps3 when metal gear solid 4 came out and the only reason i really got my ps3 was that the rumble was back in the controller i did not get the ps3 before just because of that and the price was kind off expensive at the time but i got it and i dont think it was just me that was thinking like that at the time because when the rumble came back ps3 started to sell like crazy if i am not mistaken i have had it ever since ps will be getting the ps4 launch this will be my first launch system this will be some epic times

PS1: I was but a young lad of 13 yrs old back then, and heck, I didn't even know it existed until I went over my best friend's house one day and he had gotten one for Xmas of ‘95. I thought it was so weird to have handles on the controller, but I soon adjusted, and Tekken and all these other 3D games let me know that that was the system to get. Back then it looked sooo real. My dream came true in Xmas of ’96, and further one month later when I was able to purchase my first game, which I still play ‘til this day, Jet Moto. I’d played the Jam Pack Vol. 3 demo to death for a month (and found all the hidden extras, hence my discovery of Jet Moto)! My mom didn’t understand that I needed actual games, and not just a demo disc. Jet Moto was soon followed by Twisted Metal 2, another legendary game, and the rest is history…

PS2: By the time PS2 was announced, I was neck-deep into the PlayStation brand, and knew I was getting the system at launch, no questions. I’d already experienced the Dreamcast launch the year before, and now I was ready to do the same, but more so for the PlayStation brand. Like in the Dreamcast launch, I’d pre-ordered 3 games for the system (Street Fighter EX 3, Time Splitters, and Tekken Tag Tournament. I soon traded SF3EX for SSX, ), and I also got a multi tap (as I’d done with my PS1), so I could continue to play with several friends at once, side-by-side, on a screen that could barely retain one screen, never mind a 4-way split screen. But this time, I was 18, and life was starting to happen. By 2001, my game time declined tremendously, and I’ve never fully recovered it ‘til this day, but my enthusiasm for gaming has never left….

PSP: What can I say; I was a Sony fan…You damn right I was there for the midnight Target launch!

PS3: Since I barely had time to play my PS2, I didn’t jump on getting a PS3 right away, especially at the $600 price tag. Being a young father by then, I decided to hold off until the system became more affordable. But then I heard backward compatibility was going to be removed, and I was already itching to get one, so I figured it was now or never. I made a strategic move, and the timing couldn’t have been better, and I ended up getting the MGS4 Bundle, which gave me the best of ‘both’ worlds: I had a Dual Shock 3 and not the Six Axis, my system still had backward compatibility (at least to the extent that I needed), and it came with MGS4, and at 80GB the hard drive was bigger than the launch PS3, all for $500! So I feel I got the best all-around deal. Also, some of the previously released titles were dirt cheap a-la Greatest Hits or just plain cheap from age, lol. I still hardly get to play, but it’s good to know I have a PS3, and oddly enough, it has the largest game library to date of all my systems. On my PS1, I have about 30-40 games. My PS2: 50-ish. PS3: Well over 100, and still climbing.I do have to say, that it wasn’t until the PS3 era that I officially got into (J)RPGs, so I’ve accumulated a backlog on my previous PS systems because of this. Right now I’m in the middle of Chrono Cross. My pacing is slow, as I can go months without playing a game. Also, as an additional side note, I do own all of the Nintendo systems, minus the WiiU, and I own the Xbox and the Xbox 360. The GameCube I got at launch along with the Nintendo DS. The Xbox was a gift from my wife, and the Xbox 360 I got recently once I saw that it was a better model than the previous RRODs, has a larger HDD, and came with 3 games and the headset for $250. The system has its quality games, just not as many as the PS3. If anything, being a father, I’ve been playing a lot of Nintendo games, Mario Kart Wii as of late, with the kids.

PS4: It’s a wait-and-see for this one. I definitely want it, but I can’t purchase something that will sit and collect dust at this point. I sooo want to game the way I used to, and not for nothing, I haven’t lost my touch, but time has been my constant battle, and mature-themed games are tough to play in my household with children around. We shall see….

PS1: Didn't get one till YEARS after launch. Family got an N64 on Kmart layaway at launch, and got it for Christmas. Got a Saturn a decade and a half later! LOL! Panzer Dragoon Saga FTW!

PS2: I dunno. Got a Gamecube at launch at a Gamestop, and a Dreamcast when Target was clearing them out. Got "Skies of Arcadia" from the bargain bin for $13.50 and never regretted it! I got a PS2 later.

PS3: When PS3 launched, I stood in line for 10 hours without taking a break for a wii, to get a Wii. I was number 22 in line, and there were 20 units... I GOT the Wii. One person was just acting as line backup with their friend so they could swap out and take breaks occasionally, and the other person gave up when they realized they were "21" out of 20! Perseverance won that day. My bladder... suffered! :O I NEEDED to play The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess at launch, and was NOT disappointed by that game. Got the 80 GB BC MGS edition when it launched. Waited in front of the newly opened local Gamestop from 5 or 6 AM, to get one of only 2 they would get. Witnessed my drunk renter driving my other car without a license that day... Had words with him... AFTER I got my PS3. Priorities and all... :)

PS4: already preordered at the GameStop where I work, and waiting anxiously for the launch!Last edited by richfiles on 7/25/2013 3:13:05 PM

PlayStation: Sophomore/Junior year of High School, couldn't afford it so was stuck playing Genesis. Wasn't able to get a PlayStation until after I joined the military in '97. Bought an original design/chip-set.